Stamford Bridge is the venue for tomorrow afternoon’s clash between Chelsea and a resurgent Newcastle. The hosts are unbeaten in five games in the league – a run stretching back to January 15th. Postponed games and action in different competitions have been a factor for that long stretch – while Newcastle haven’t lost in eight league games.
The Magpies will be thrilled with this long run that has seen them pull further clear of the dreaded relegation zone, where it seemed they most certainly would end up come May but Eddie Howe has done wonders since arriving.
Chelsea meanwhile, are playing at Stamford Bridge for the first time since January 22nd when they beat Lille 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 and still find themselves playing under a slight cloud, as the ownership change of their club still hangs in the balance.
For Newcastle, recent victories against Southampton, Brighton and Brentford has pushed them up to 14th in the table, ten points clear of the relegation zone having played the same amount of games as 18th placed Burnley (27).
Chelsea sit rather comfortably in 3rd place, eight points ahead of Arsenal in 4th and nine points in front of 5th placed Manchester United.
In terms of injury news, Reece James has a muscle injury and it confirmed to miss at least the next three games for Chelsea. Cesar Azpilicueta is a doubt after being withdrawn at half time against Norwich in midweek and it also unclear whether Marcos Alonso will be fit.
Newcastle will definitely be without Jamal Lewis, Callum Wilson, Kieran Trippier and Isaac Hayden so Eddie Howe will have to ring the changes for this big clash.
Predicted lineups:
Chelsea: Mendy, Chalobah, Rudiger, Silva, Saul, Hudson-Odoi, Kovacic, Kante, Mount, Werner, Havertz
Newcastle: Dubravka, Manquillo, Schar, Burn, Targett; Willock, Shelvey, Joelinton; Saint-Maximin, Wood, Murphy
Kick off is at 14:00, live on Sky Sports Premier League.
